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Agenda Report
July 20, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Department of Public Works
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH SUPERB ENGINEERING FOR
THE SIERRA MADRE BOULEVARD MEDIAN ENHANCEMENTS
PROJECT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $6,337,927
I
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find the contract proposed herein to be categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Title 14, Chapter 3, Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1 - Existing Facilities, and that there are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class and, therefore, there are no unusual circumstances;
2. Award contract to the lowest and best bid dated April 15, 2026 submitted by Superb Engineering in response to the bid specifications for the Sierra Madre Boulevard Median Enhancements project, and authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract for a total not-to-exceed amount of $6,337,927 which includes the base contract amount of $5,761,752 and a contingency of $576,175 to provide for any necessary change orders; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to approve within contract authority, amendments to the subject contract including durational extensions.
BACKGROUND:
The wide landscaped medians along Sierra Madre Boulevard date back to the former Pacific Electric railway corridor and remain a prominent feature of the roadway today.
Over time, many of the medians became characterized by water-intensive turf, aging irrigation infrastructure, and limited landscaping value as vegetation declined and irrigation systems were reduced or fell out of regular use during extended drought conditions. The City identified the corridor as an opportunity to enhance and reimagine these underutilized spaces through the incorporation of green infrastructure improvements intended to capture and treat stormwater and dry weather runoff, support MEETING OF07/20/2026AGENDA ITEM NO..12
Contract Award for Sierra Madre Blvd. Median Enhancements Project July 20, 2026
water quality compliance objectives, and improve the overall character of the corridor through the use of drought-tolerant landscaping and related corridor enhancements.
The S/erra Madre Boulevard Median Enhancement Project (73945) focuses on the medians along Sierra Madre Boulevard extending from Michillinda Avenue to East Washington Boulevard. The project is intended to intercept and treat dry weather flows from the Sierra Madre Villa and New York storm drains, as well as surface runoff entering the corridor, through the incorporation of green infrastructure and urban enhancement features designed to improve water quality and support infiltration.
The project will replace existing median landscaping with native and climate-adaptive plantings, including new shrubs, ground cover, and over 700 new trees and shrubs along approximately 1.25 miles of corridor. Improvements will also include installation of green infrastructure features such as bioswales, bioretention areas, dry rock swales, and drywells intended to capture, treat, and infiltrate dry weather and stormwater runoff.
In addition, the project includes associated irrigation and street lighting enhancements throughout the corridor.
The design includes the removal of 44 existing public trees to accommodate construction ofstormwater capture and green infrastructure features. The proposed removals were evaluated by the City Arborist and Forestry staff and determined to be consistent with Pasadena Municipal Code and the City's Public Tree Removal Criteria.
Following review of the arboricultural assessment and project design, the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee (UFAC) supported the proposed removals on September 11,2024.
The trees approved for removal consist primarily of non-native ornamental species, including Silk Floss Trees and Crown of Gold trees, with smaller numbers of Cape Chestnut, Coral Tree, Coast Redwood, and Pink Trumpet Tree specimens. None are designated heritage trees, scenic resources, or trees with unique scenic value. The project retains existing trees where feasible and replaces the removed trees with over 700 new trees and extensive native and drought-tolerant landscaping, resulting in a substantial increase in overall tree canopy, biodiversity, and habitat value within the corridor.
Tournament of Roses staff were engaged as key stakeholders throughout the project outreach, coordination, and design development process. Through this coordination, Tournament of Roses representatives confirmed that the final project design and planned construction activities are not anticipated to impact Rose Parade Floatfest operations. Construction activities will be scheduled and coordinated to avoid conflicts with annual Tournament of Roses events, including Floatfest.
The Department of Public Works and the design consultant prepared plans and specifications for the subject project. Bids were requested and received, in accordance with Section 4.08.060 of the Pasadena Municipal Code. On March 24, 2026, a Notice Inviting Bids for Sierra Madre Blvd. Median Enhancements was published in 22 trade journals, as well as posted on OpenGov Procurement. The posting generated notices to Contract Award for Sierra Madre Blvd. Median Enhancements Project July 20, 2026
all vendors who have previously registered with the City for this particular commodity class. A total of 93 vendors downloaded the specifications, six were local. A total of three bids were received by the bid opening date. None were local.
Following advertising, bids were electronically received on April 15, 2026, and are as follows:I
Bidder
1. Superb Engineering, Banning, CA
2. Marina Landscape, Inc., Orange, CA
3. Environmental Construction, Inc., Woodlands hlills, CA Engineer's Estimate
Amount ($)
$ 5,761,752
$ 5,817,631
$ 7,205,063
$ 7,273,700
The lowest and best bid received is approximately 25 percent lower than the Engineer's Estimate.
It is recommended that Superb Engineering be awarded the contract for this project as the lowest and best bidder. The proposed contract for the Sierra Madre Median Enhancement project fully complies with the Competitive Bidding and Living Wage Ordinances and with the Prevailing Wage Law (Senate Bill 7) per Resolution 9406 adopted by the City Council on December 14, 2014. The contractor has indicated that the awarding of this contract will result in no new hires to the present workforce. In accordance with Local Preference provisions of the contract, the contractor is encouraged to recruit Pasadena residents initially and to give them preference, if all other factors are equal, for any new positions generated from this contract.
Superb Engineering has not previously performed work for the City. Staff has confirmed the contractor's license, and their Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) status is in good standing. The contractor received favorable reference checks from other agencies.
The contract will be set up as follows:
Base Bid
Continaencv
$
1. 5,761,752
576,175
Contract Not-to-Exceed Amount$ 6,337,927
A contingency of 10 percent is allocated to this contract given the potential for unforeseen conditions that may be encountered during construction. The project includes substantial grading and earthwork activities within a historic former railway corridor where undocumented subsurface conditions may exist, including abandoned rail-related infrastructure, buried foundations, debris, and unknown utilities. The contingency is intended to provide flexibility to address these types of field conditions Contract Award for Sierra Madre Blvd. Median Enhancements Project July 20, 2026
and other necessary adjustments that may arise during construction. It is anticipated that construction will begin in late Summer 2026 and be completed in Spring 2027.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
This contract is consistent with the City Council's goal to improve, maintain, and enhance public facilities and infrastructure throughout the City. It also supports the Land Use Element Policy 16.2 (Service Adequacy) by periodically reviewing the impacts of major physical, environmental, economic and social changes and identifying their implications in meeting the sen/ice needs of Pasadena's residents; Policy 10.13 (Urban Forest) to maintain and plant additional trees along the City's sidewalks, civic places, parks, and in private developments to support the health and diversity of wildlife, sequester GHG emissions, and contribute to the reduction of the urban heat island; Policy 10.16 (Infrastructure) by improving Pasadena's infrastructure to conserve and reduce impacts to the natural environment; and Policy 10.18 (Water Quality) to encourage the use of natural processes to capture, treat and infiltrate urban runoff throughout the watershed.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The contract award has been determined to be categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines in accordance with Title 14, Chapter 3, Art:icle 19, Section 15301, Class 1, Existing Facilities. Class 1 consists of minor alterations of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use. There are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class and, therefore, there are no unusual circumstances.
Contract Award for Sierra Madre Blvd. Median Enhancements Project July 20, 2026
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this contract including contingency is $6,337,927 and the total cost of this action will be $6,787,927. Funding for this action will be addressed by the utilization of existing budgeted appropriations in the S/erra Madre Blvd. Median Enhancements (73945) CIP project. It is anticipated all costs will be expended in FY 2028. There is no impact to the General Fund, as the entire project is funded with Measure W Local Return Funds and Caltrans State Highway Operation and Protection Program Stormwater Mitigation Grant Funding.
The following table represents a project summary.
Base Bid
Contingency
Construction Administration, Materials Testing, and Inspection $ 5,761,752
$ 576,175
$ 450,000
Total Fiscal Impact$ 6,787,927
Respectfully submitted,
GREGDEVINCK,P.E.
Director of Public Works
Prepared by:
B^ent Maue, P.E.
City Engineer
Approved by:
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MATTHiEW E/HAWKESWORTH
Interim City Manager